Jerez was once more a packed and passionate stage for MotoGP and the scene for Red Bull KTM Tech3 Maverick Viñales to again show podium potential. #12 rode to 4th position at the Spanish Grand Prix and the first date of a long European stint of the 2025 calendar as all four KTM RC16s classified in the top nine of the rankings. Elsewhere, Jose Antonio Rueda dominated the Moto3™ Grand Prix with the KTM RC4.
There are few more familiar and recognizable circuits in modern MotoGP than the 4.4km layout east of Jerez de la Frontera and deep into Andalucia. For 2025, the Spanish Grand Prix welcomed a fence-busting 224,420 attendance (GP total) and typically bright, warm and pleasant racing conditions.
MotoGP powered into motion for 25 laps and Maverick was immediately into top five reckoning and then consolidated his status after Marc Marquez’s crash. He drew close to the rear wheel of the battle for 2nd and 3rd but couldn’t quite consider a passing move. His 4th place and 13 points represents another encouraging weekend of competitiveness two weeks after he passed the flag in P2 in Qatar. Further behind, Brad Binder diligently worked to win positions from the fifth row and dragged Pedro Acosta with him as the pair maximized their traction and potential. Enea Bastianini – always faster and more capable in the longer Grand Prix distance on Sunday – was again one of the more proactive figures in the race as he bustled through mid-pack to obtain 9th.
Maverick Viñales, 4th and 15th in the championship standings:“I could close to the gap to the guys for the podium but every time I got near it was harder to stop the bike and I was going slower. I would drop back a bit and then get faster and the same thing! It was like a yo-yo. I knew I had to be satisfied with 4th today, which also sounds quite nice. The weekend was positive and we are building up. We had that good base from Qatar and there will be tracks where we have more or less potential and here was a place where I did not expect much: it’s a long time since I’ve been 4th in Jerez, so I’m happy.”
Brad Binder, 6th and 11th in the championship standings: “Much more satisfied with what we managed to do today. We made a big change with the bike and it was turning a lot better, especially with edge grip and I could manage it better. I could push. It’s nice to make a decent recovery. I still need to work on my all-out pace: I’m not fast enough. My consistency was good, I just need that extra speed. I need to find that small extra comfort to be able to push on again.”
Pedro Acosta, 7th and 10th in the championship standings: “We need to improve the first part of the race. There was low grip at the beginning but from lap seven or eight everything started to work and we had the pace of the top group. We could recover a bit. A good feeling. Brad and I were making the same mistakes and having the same issues but I think we were some of the fastest guys at the end of the race. Good overall.”
Enea Bastianini, 9th and 13th in the championship standings: “I can be much more satisfied than in the Sprint race. The pace was closer to the other KTM riders today. My expectations were not too high, starting from 18th. It was difficult and we had some vibration but my entry speed into the slower corners was much better than Saturday, we made another small step.”
Aki Ajo, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “Another positive weekend in a row and more understanding about where we are and how to improve into areas where we’ve had some weakness. The Sprint race on Saturday was not the easiest session but in the grand prix today we made a step forwards, and in different conditions. It’s important that we look at the progress in the last three races and that we are moving in the right direction. We are creating the feeling that our riders need and increasing the trust. Now we look to France.”
